Halloween Popcorn: Part 2

For Halloween, Grandma and Grandpa Nelson sent us a fun popcorn package. Unfortunately, we were out of the country and the post office decided not to deliver it. Grandpa immediately ordered a new popcorn package, and we ate it all right up.

So now, two months later, it is even more exciting that Andy went to the post office and they had the original package, and now we get a second round of deliciousness, and we get to extend Halloween into December. Best gift ever!

The cute box and the anticipation of opening it:

 Making googly eyes, just like the pumpkin cookie:

Enjoying the deliciousness:

Nicky protecting his property:

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

Halloween

I think Calvin is so NOT into Halloween this year because he's started to recognize what scary things really represent, and he insists that he doesn't want anything to do with the freaky holiday. We have spent weeks trying to talk him into a costume and convince him that trick-or-treating will be fun. He has flat-out refused any involvement.

We all know, however, that he loves his pajamas more than anything else in life. As we were about to go out the door to my mom's house, I tried one more ploy. I told him that if he would go trick-or-treating, he could wear his pajamas under any costume he wanted. He agreed and decided to wear the fireman costume we bought him a while ago at Costco. We even added a dalmatian to make it more fun, and by the time we went out the door he was really excited.

We grabbed dinner at my mom's house, took pictures with all of the cousins, and then went up and down her street together before we all went separate ways to trick-or-treat in our own neighborhoods. Picture highlights:

Playing at Brown Grandma's house while we wait for everyone:

White Grandma as Minnie

The group:

Rapunzel:

The fireman and the sassy fairy:

(I love this one of Carrie!)

Trick-or-Treating en masse:

This was our first house and it was hilarious because as soon as the little old lady opened the door, the kids all pushed their way into her house. She wasn't sure what to do.

That wolf is hot! I totally want him to bite me.
(I've been doing a research paper on Twilight. I'm into objectifying men right now.)

We tried to have a Little Red Riding Hood/Grandma in the cottage moment:


She looks like a party girl who had too much to drink and then lost it all down the front of her shirt. Even her eyes, hair, and red nose look like she's a bit soused (someone gave her black cherry soda in her bag).

My favorite picture of the night:
When we got back from the 3 houses we went to in our neighborhood, and hung out with our friends the Hills for a while, we came home and dragged a tv into the kitchen where we ate candy and watched Halloween cartoons. It was a very good day. 10/31

Halloween Carnival

We had a church Halloween carnival the Saturday before Halloween. I wish I had taken pictures because it was really well done and a lot of fun for the kids. Each classroom in the church had a different carnival game--a cake walk, Halloween bowling, a haunted house, ball toss, etc--and then in the big room in the center of the church was chili, donuts, homemade pies, hot chocolate and a place for people to gather and chit chat. After the games and dinner we all went outside to a live band and hot kettle corn. The kids did a costume parade (which Calvin insisted I walk with him in, even though he had refused to dress up), and the adults talked while the kids ran around. We stayed for about ten minutes outside because it was freezing.

(notice Calvin crying and not in a costume)

I had great plans for Autumn to be Little Red Riding Hood, Calvin the wolf, me the granny, and Andy the wood cuter. Calvin refused to dress up, so we were just a hodge-podge of stuff. I was a little sad, but everyone liked the big bad wolf carrying around the little red riding hood all night.

Since my sister is in town, she asked if she could come to our party so her little boy would have something fun and festive to do. She met us at the church and we didn't even talk about costumes before hand, but we ended up looking like sisters. Which we are.

I have quite possibly the only kids in the world who cry at Halloween. (And Christmas. And everything else.) 10/29

Halloween

For Halloween my sister threw a fantastic Halloween carnival for the little kids. There was lots of fun games and delicious food.

The cutest little devil ever. When he looked in the mirror for the first time with the costume on, he laughed and yelled, "I a bat!" He thinks he's a little red bat and loves it, so we just went with it.

Appalachian black bear and the fairy.

Little dark princess. Cutest dress ever when you can see all of the detail.

Sweet little pumpkin.

The bunny and the raccoon.

Little Mermaid.

Wingless fairy. I think.

The lion.

The bear.

The pirate.

The super creepy mullet sporting Batman.

The owl cupcakes I made. Calvin loved hooting at them and ate about 4 in one day.

Story time.

Pin the nose on the pumpkin.

Sack races.

Andy was scary. He was determined to win, and barrelled over anything in his way. He took the entire competition. I was so proud of my man.

The kids.

Calvin looked darling in his sack, but instead of jumping, he liked to stand in place and cry as all of the other kids raced to the finish line.

After the games we ate pizza and drank homemade root beer. Calvin fed a mangy dog through the fence, and then licked his fingers and the dog's nose. So gross. All in all it was a really great time.

Thanks Alicia for such a fun party!

A few hours later....

We decided to Trick-or-Treat at Grandma's house first. I thought she was going to cry, she was so excited to see him at the door. I guess she's still happy that we moved closer. We hooked up with my brother and his kids to make the rounds in the neighborhood.

Darling little devil. Err, I mean darling little red bat.

The witch and the devil.

He loved saying saying Trick-or-Treat (he kept saying it all night at home when he wanted another piece of candy. He caught on quickly that we thought it was so cute, we couldn't say no.)

The End.